Report to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning
Report submitted by: Executive Director of Environment
Date: 3 June 2010
Part I - Item No. 3
Electoral Divisions affected:
All
Response to Communities and Local Government Consultation on draft
Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Low Carbon Future in a Changing
Climate
(Appendices 'A' and 'B' refer)
Contact for further information:
Richard Camp, 01772 532965, Environment Directorate
[email protected]
Executive Summary
The County Council has recently been consulted on the draft Planning Policy
Statement (PPS): Planning for a Low Carbon Future in a Changing Climate
attached at Appendix 'A'. This has been issued by Communities and Local
Government (CLG) and sets out the Government's planning framework for
ensuring progress against the UK’s targets to tackle climate change. The policy
will replace the existing PPS22 on Renewable Energy and the PPS1 supplement
on Climate Change.
The purpose of the revised and consolidated guidance is to strengthen the
existing policy by clarifying the roles and responsibilities of regional and local
authorities. The overall aim is to put climate change at the centre of planning
policy along with housing and economic development.
The draft policy is consistent with the County Council's Climate Change strategy.
The document is principally aimed at guiding the production of Local Development
Frameworks and their development management policies. It will therefore fall to
District Councils to implement the proposed PPS.
Recommendation
That the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning is recommended to
support the proposed policy and that the comments made in the report be
submitted in response to the consultation.
-2Background and Advice
The new draft policy sets out the planning framework for ensuring progress
against the UK’s targets to tackle climate change. The policy will replace the
existing PPS22 on Renewable Energy and the PPS1 supplement on Climate
Change.
The purpose of the revised and consolidated guidance is to strengthen the existing
policy and takes account of research that has shown that, to date, planning has
not been as effective as it should be in meeting climate change targets. It also
takes account of the raft of Government and European legislation and strategies
that have recently been published relating to climate change. These have
introduced statutory targets on carbon emissions and renewable energy, and
placed more emphasis on decentralised energy (for example district heating
schemes and micro renewables). The draft policy aims to put climate change at
the centre of planning policy and to put it on equal footing with housing and
economic development within the emerging Regional Strategies (in the North
West this is RS2010 Regional Strategy for England's North West). Specific policy
changes being proposed are:

Clearer guidance for regional and local planning authorities on developing
the evidence base for renewable and low carbon energy.

Clarification of the role of regional planning bodies to set targets for
renewable energy and identify broad areas where such development
should take place.

Requirement for local planning authorities to assess their areas for
decentralised energy and set out how opportunities will be delivered.

Encouraging local planning authorities to support infrastructure for electric
and plug-in vehicles
Appendix 'B' provides a summary of how the proposed policy compares with the
existing policy and indicates how the County Council's role is likely to be affected.
General Comments
The new policy is welcomed and provides greater clarity in terms of what is
expected from regional and local planning authorities in terms of developing a
robust evidence base and taking forward the climate change agenda through the
development plan process in Lancashire.
The most notable change in policy is the increased role for district authorities in
taking forward decentralised energy. This will fall to Lancashire's District Councils
to implement as part of their Local Development Frameworks. The County
Council currently provides planning advice to district and regional planning bodies
in relation to renewable energy in a variety of ways (see Appendix 'B'). The
degree to which the County Council will be able to continue this work in the future
-3will depend upon resource availability and competing demands in respect of
functions for which the County Council has statutory responsibility.
Monitoring work by the County Council supports the findings carried out by CLG
that renewables targets are currently not being met. At present there are subregional targets within the Regional Spatial Strategy. The 2010 target for
Lancashire is 239 megawatts (MW). The installed capacity is 135.8 MW1, well
short of this target.
There is much more emphasis on decentralised energy and the role of local
planning authorities in assessing opportunities and the capacity for new renewable
schemes within the draft policy than in the existing PPS. This is welcomed;
however, there is a concern that there is less on larger scale renewables than in
the existing PPS 22. For example, landscape assessment, a major issue in
determining wind energy proposals, is not now included.
Specific comments
Policy LCF5 provides guidance on the approach local planning authorities should
adopt in relation to climate change and in particular adaptation to climate change.
The development of green infrastructure and biodiversity are recognised as
important parts of this approach. However, it needs to be recognised that the two
are not mutually inclusive. Biodiversity and climate change adaptation are
delivered through Ecological Frameworks and Ecological Networks. Green
Infrastructure is about multi-functionality, and how the natural and historic
environment is utilised for wider social and economic benefits. It cannot be
assumed that Green Infrastructure will deliver biodiversity objectives in all
instances.
Policy LCF6 is concerned with how local planning authorities should select sites
for new development. The policy is generally supported but needs to be robust
and include 'damage to' rather than simply 'loss' of a carbon sink. It needs to
recognise that sites may be significant carbon stores and have the potential to
become carbon sinks with appropriate management. The term 'significant carbon
sinks' needs defining for clarity. It is perhaps better to use terminology such as
'safeguarding' carbon sinks. It may also be appropriate for carbon sinks
themselves to be identified within Development Plan Documents.
Consultation
N/A.
Implications:
This item has the following implications, as indicated:
The Regional Spatial Strategy sets targets for renewable energy at the County
level. Similar targets are likely to be included within the emerging RS 2010.
Targets for reducing carbon emissions are also contained within the Lancashire
1
Spatial Planning in Lancashire - Annual Monitoring Report 3, Lancashire County Council (March
2010)
-4Climate Change Strategy. The draft policy will have a direct impact on meeting
these targets in Lancashire.
Risk management
The consultation provides the opportunity to comment on a potentially important
piece of planning policy. If no response is made there is a risk that, without this
authority's views, the proposed policy will not be as effective as it should be.
Financial
There are no financial implications arising from this report.
Any representations made to the Cabinet Member prior to the issue being
considered in accordance with the Public Notice of Forward Plans
Name:
Organisation:
Comments:
N/A.
Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985
List of Background Papers
Paper
Date
Nil.
Reason for inclusion in Part II, if appropriate
N/A.
Contact/Directorate/Tel
-5-
Decision Taken: Declarations
Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning
Response to Communities and Local Government Consultation on
draft Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Low Carbon Future
in a Changing Climate
Original recommendation, as set out in the report, approved without
amendment.
Yes
Original recommendation amended and decision as follows:
No
I have a personal/prejudicial interest in this matter.
No
If an interest is declared please give details below:
Tim Ashton
Cabinet Member for Environment and
Planning
3 June 2010
Chief Officer
I certify that this is an appropriate and
accurate record within the terms of
Standing Order 35(2) and (3) of the
decision taken by the Cabinet
Member.
Stuart Benson
For and on behalf of the Executive Director
of Environment
3 June 2010